Justice is Blind

Bruce smiled, almost comforted by the fact that Matt sounded so concerned, despite the waves of emotion he could feel rolling off of him. He wasn’t skilled enough to place it. Was it self-doubt? Or maybe he was mourning. Though he simultaneously loathed the idea of causing him any stress. “I’m okay.” He hurried to assure his friend. “I mean- kind of.” Were any of them okay right now? If he hadn’t already seen Tony, and Emma, the change in Matt’s appearance would be stark, and definitely a reason to falter. But he had almost been prepared for it.

“You didn’t escape unscathed then?” He asked, hoping he would know what he was referring to. “You don’t have to stand up-” He added suddenly, stopping where he was in case Matt decided to move any closer. “It’s just… people near me, I think I make them nervous. Or anxious… I don’t want that to happen to you.”

Matt didn’t need to have super hearing to hear the lack of confidence in Bruce’s answer. He could guess the reason for his uncertainty. He had yet to find anyone who was thrilled and completely comfortable with whatever it was that had happened to them now. He suddenly remembered how he looked and noted the lack of surprise at it. He was sure Bruce had seen others. He might look like a statue, but that was the last striking change that had been described to him.

Unable to help a small laugh at the question, Matt shook his head. “No, no I didn’t,” he sighed. He started to move towards the Bruce, but stopped when the motion seemed to make the other uncomfortable. When the scientist explained his worry, he nodded once and stayed in his aisle, though he rested against the back of the pew in front of him so he was still facing the other man. “Sounds as though you didn’t escape unscathed either,” he offered gently. 

So that’s what it was. Not moving the car or at least driving around the block had been a huge oversight, but getting gas would draw unwanted attention considering the indefinite quarantine that the dome provided. Daisy quickly did her best to look embarrassed, running a hand through her slightly messed up hair with a dismissive laugh. He looked like any normal civilian and she could respect a protective streak for the church.  “Ah, no I’m okay. I must have lost track of time…”

Dark eyes darted towards the ignition, lacking any keys and wires exposed. Only small favors had sent someone blind to check out the loiterer than actually calling the cops. Daisy sat up straighter, squinting at the man with a small inkling of familiarity that quickly passed. “I was just passing through town visiting a friend before all this happened.”

Large sweeping gestures helped to distract from the half truths, however such actions seemed useless on the man before her. Thankfully the evidence in the car only backed up her claims with empty food and drink containers littering the floor. A mound of clothes formed a lumpy pillow in the back seat next to her defunct lap top for when she decided to climb back for some actual rest.

“Anyways, thanks for looking out but I’ll be okay. Let ‘em know I didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes.”

Matt listened to far more than the woman’s words as she responded to him. She avoided flat out lying to him, but she was hardly being up front with the truth. He could hardly blame her in the situation. “Lost track of time? They made it sound like you’ve been outside here for a few days,” he offered gently.

Normally, the hotwired car would have given him reason to be suspicious of several things, but lately that might be the only way to get some cars started. He could smell the empty food containers and dirty clothes before he knocked, but now that the door was open he took in the variety of it all. “If you want to wait for your friend, you can come inside and way. It might be a lot safer for both of you and they have food there, clean clothes, and a place to rest,” he offered. Even before all of this, the promise of snacks usually gave people pause.

“Honestly, I’m wondering whether I should give up on being a science person and do the same.” Bruce admitted. It was no secret the scientific research into the dome and its properties was proving useless. Seemingly there was no way to understand it, which meant there was no way to figure out how they might bring it down. If people like Doctor Strange couldn’t have any affect, then what hope did he have, really? Magic felt like a far better tool than his lab equipment. “I hope so.” He said quietly, despite knowing Matt really was right. any help he could offer in that respect would be very much appreciated. “I think a little figurative light could go a long way right now.”

Laughing quietly at the suggestion, he wondered whether maybe he was just a watered down version of Tony. Hiding behind logic and weak protests so that he could deny any responsibility when things finally did go wrong. Smiling, momentarily forgetting Matt couldn’t read his expression, it took him a moment to show his appreciation of the gesture. Not many people offered to help both himself and the Other Guy. Most people liked to pretend the Other Guy didn’t exist. “That… actually means a lot.” He admitted, unsure how to put into words that the sentiment had touched him. “If either of us need help… I guess I know who to call.” Laughing at the idea of still having a lawyer, he tapped his fingers against his mug. The thought was endlessly amusing to him. “Tony has taken on the role of my legal protection. Well- I guess his legal team have. But honestly, they help because they’re paid to. It’s comforting to know there’s somebody out there who genuinely cares…”

Even if Matt was still a stranger, somebody he didn’t know well yet, it mattered to him. It mattered an awful lot. Feeling the atmosphere change again when the conversation turned back to the woman he loved and her family, his smile faded. He could hear how much Matt cared, he recognised the same tired resignation in his voice when talking about the troubles they faced together. “I guess I do, yeah.” He agreed, chewing on his bottom lip as he thought about everything he had been through with Betty. “I’m sorry things are difficult…”

Matt couldn’t help but let out a huff of air and shake his head a bit when Bruce mentioned giving up on being a scientist throughout all this because of their lack of progress. “Right before all this with the dome, I considered giving up being a lawyer because I felt like I couldn’t make a difference with anything I did, so I get it, I do. I also know that people are grateful for what you have given them. You’ve all saved a lot of lives with your work. It might not feel like it, but you have. I’m going to assume I’m one of them, so thank you,” he told him. “I’ll leave the literal light to everyone else, but I appreciate the figurative one.”

Matt smiled and sipped from his mug while Bruce thought over what he said. “Are you nodding right now?” he teased. “I feel like you are nodding,” he grinned at him. Sometimes, being a little crazy was the only way to get things accomplished. 

“I mean it,” Matt assured Bruce. From the sounds of it, not a lot of people offered him help. He nodded when Tony’s legal team was explained, “Money can only get you so far. I know you’ll have unique challenges and I want you to know that I’d do what I can to help you both. I’m good at reading people. You’re good men. If Hulk really was the monster Ross described to me, I’d be dead. I’ll help fight whoever needs fought to help other people see that side of him so you both can have time to settle down without looking over your shoulder,” he told him.

“Food sounds lovely, thank you.” Ava wasn’t going to turn away an invitation to remain inside, especially when her powers were on the fritz. She didn’t want to risk going back out there and being set on fire just trying to get home. “Ava, by the way. My name.” She fell into step behind him, trying not to dwell too much on her earlier mistake despite the voices screaming inside her head. “What kind of lawyer are you… exactly?” Might as well try to get to know him, right? 

Foggy was… asleep to say the very least. After all, he had a long night watching marathons on television. Sleeping on the couch wasn’t the best option to sleep in but since he was alone, it didn’t matter. Besides, it wasn’t like Matt would just burst in and complain about his current condition.

Or so he thought.

With a small knock on the door, the attorney woke up with groggily eyes and scanned around the living room. With his table was filled with empty cabs of beer and soda followed by pizza boxes scattered around the floor, one would say that it was a hell of a mess. Stretching his arms while letting out a loud yawn, Foggy didn’t exactly near who was behind the door.

“I’m coming I’m coming….slow you’re horses.” Half awake, Foggy got up from his sleeping couch and made his way to the door. And once he had opened up, a familiar sight widen his eyes causing the attorney to step back a bit before blurting out the words;

“M…Matt?? Is that, really you??” Foggy was this close on punching his friend but couldn’t help to rush in for a tight hug. “Jesus. It is you. Oh thank God. I thought you were…gone.” With a chuckle, the attorney let’s go of the said hug before noticing something different about his friend.

“You look, weird.”

Matt was consistently concerned about Foggy. It wasn’t that Foggy wasn’t an adult or he thought that Foggy couldn’t take care of himself under normal circumstances. He worried because none of this was normal and with Avengers struggling to care for themselves and others he was worried about everyone in the city. Emma and Elektra had told Matt he looked odd, but he didn’t feel any different until he was out on the streets. As people walked by him, he started to get odd feelings about them and the tattoo on his arm reacted to his shifting attention. It was something he knew he needed to consider later, but for right now he needed to check on his friend.